Tay Ninh is a province in southeastern Vietnam, 99km from Ho Chi Minh city. With 240km of border with Cambodia, Tay Ninh is a major gateway to the southwest of the country. The mount Ba Den, Dau Tieng reservoir in Lo Go – Xa Mat national park, the Cao Dai Temple, the ancient tower Binh Thanh and other historical relics of the Vietnamese Revolution are famous tourist attractions

Cao Dai Temple

Located in the area affected by the province’s massive chemical bombing of the US military, near the Cambodian border, home to Tay Ninh’s main religious building of the sect, is commonly called the “great temple” or “Cao Dai Cathedral”. This “new” religion was founded in 1926 by Ngo Van Chieu, a great lover of spiritualism, and the French colonial administration official. But it was in 1919 that a spirit called Cao Dai appeared to him, especially in the form of an eye that will quickly become the hallmark of the sect. This great eye, which refers to Buddhism and even Freemasonry and Hinduism, is an omnipresent in the philosophy of the sect as on the walls or ceiling of the Tay Ninh building.

In Autumn 1926, the inauguration was officially given to the dignities of the sect by the colonial authorities. Historian Gabriel Gobron (alias “Brother Gago”), author of a study on the history of this spiritual movement in 1949 – and soon official and political – said about the official birth of Caodaism: “The new religion took extension very quickly , as it was received with enthusiasm, especially by the people. Anxious to act openly and keep within the strictest legality, its leaders made an official declaration signed by 28 people, they addressed the date of 7 October 1926 to the Governor of Indochina. This statement was also attached a list of followers with the signatures of 247 supporters attended the ceremony having devoted the official existence of Caodaism. Quickly, the leaders of the Great Way organized propaganda within missions.”

The Great Temple is 140m long and 40m wide. It has 4 towers, each with a different name: Tam Dai, Hiep Thien Dai, Cuu Trung Dai and Bat Quai Dai. The interior of the temple consists of a colonnaded hall and a sanctuary. The two rows of columns are decorated with dragons and coated with white, red and blue. The domed ceiling is divided into 9 parts similar to a night sky filled with stars. Under the dome is a giant star-speckled blue globe on which is painted the divine eye, the official symbol of Caodaism.

Dau Tieng Reservoir

The lake has an area of 27,000 ha, with a capacity of 1.5 billion m3 of water to irrigate fields of Tay Ninh province and neighboring provinces. Natural oasis, fresh air, vast lakes can soothe hot air from the long summer days and even stressful life. This attracts many national and international visitors. Here, it addition to enjoy the freshest seafood dishes provided by local residents, visitors also have the opportunity to attend the exciting life of the boat.

Ba Den Mountain

Ba Den Mountain is located in the town of Tan Thanh district, 11km northeast of Tay Ninh city. From a distance, Ba Den mountain is like a hat covering the plain. It is located in a set of famous historical and cultural monuments and legendary landscapes of Tay Ninh. Located 110km from Ho Chi Minh City, the mountain is known as Van Son because it is often covered with clouds. This mountain attracts tourists with its majestic landscapes, caves and many beautiful temples.

On arrival at Ba Den Mountain, tourists – especially young – like slipping into gutters. This game was introduced for the first time in Vietnam and considered a very unique and impressive “tourism product” for tourists.

Chang Riec Forest

Chang Riec includes 6,510 ha of natural forests, 824 ha of cleared land regeneration, 983 ha of forest plantations and 1,456 ha of new plantations. The main natural environments in Chang Riec are semi-evergreen plains, deciduous forests and seasonally inundated grassland. The walks in the forest to admire the great old trees and listen to the birdsong bring a calm and quiet experience to tourists. It is the ideal place for camping.